Look To The Stars News: Dixie Chicks

Tim McGraw And Faith Hill To Perform For Country United

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The American Country singer and actor Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill will perform during Country United, a two-day event comprised of the Partnership for Military Medicine Symposium and the Country United Gala. The events will take place on November 6 & 7, 2009, in Washington , D.C., to support the United States’s wounded warriors.

Symposium registration and Gala tickets are both available at www.countryunited.org.

The symposium and gala are supported by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and the Tug McGraw Foundation.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) for the Advancement of Military Medicine is a private, not-for-profit organization authorized by the US Congress to support military medical research and education at USU (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences) and throughout the armed forces. Country United is an extension of HJF’s ongoing efforts to advance military medicine. (www.hjf.org)

The Tug McGraw Foundation was established in 2003 to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors, and in 2009 expanded programs to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. TMF collaborates and partners with other organizations to accelerate new treatments and cures while improving quality of life in areas of physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual impact of those debilitating conditions.

McGraw and Hill are co-chairing the event that will raise money to help advance medical care and improve quality of life for service members and civilians. Hill is also scheduled to provide the keynote address during the Nov. 6 symposium.

“My father, Tug McGraw, proudly served as a Marine, and I’m honored to play a role in this very special event,” Tim McGraw said. “The goal of Country United is aligned with our own mission to accelerate treatment and cures around quality-of-life issues.”

Tim Mc Graw is very involved in social activities. As his success has grown, McGraw has become increasingly interested in giving back to the community. When McGraw first reached fame in 1994, he established his annual Swampstock event. Begun as a charity softball game to raise money for hometown little league programs, the event now includes a celebrity softball game and a multi-artist concert that attracts over 11,000 fans per year. The combined events have funded new little league parks and equipment and established college scholarship funds for students in the Northeast Louisiana area.

From 1996-1999 McGraw also hosted an annual New Year’s Eve concert in Nashville with special guests including Jeff Foxworthy, the Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride. The 1997 show raised over $100,000 for the Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum. Beginning in 1999, McGraw would pick select cities on each tour, and the night before he was scheduled to perform, would choose a local club and host a quickly-organized show. This tour within a tour became known as “The Bread and Water Tour”, and all proceeds from the show would go to a charity from that community.

In the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina, McGraw and his wife, who was raised in Mississippi, joined groups taking supplies to Gulfport, Mississippi. The two also hosted several charity concerts to benefit those who were displaced by the storm. Later in the year the couple established the Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, which provides funding for community charities to assist with basic humanitarian services in the event of a natural disaster or for desperate personal circumstances.

McGraw is also a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, in which various celebrities donate their time, skills, and fame to help the Red Cross highlight important initiatives and response efforts.

McGraw has helped out with charity events held by NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. The Favre Forward Foundation has featured McGraw (and at other times Faith Hill) performing concerts during dinners and auctions that benefit children with disabilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi.

On July 12th, 2007, it was made public that McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, while in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a performance, donated $5000 to Kailey Kozminski, 3 year-old daughter of Officer Robert Kozminski, a Grand Rapids police officer who was killed on July 8, 2007 while responding to a domestic disturbance.

It's Business Time For The Flight Of The Conchords

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Grammy award-winning comedy duo Flight of the Conchords are part of a huge new auction being run to raise cash for charity.

The Conchords shot to fame in 2007 when their quirky television series debuted on HBO and immediately received ratings and critical acclaim. Originally from New Zealand, the duo uses a mix of music and comedy to make witty and deadpan observations on society. Their new series starts next month.

Now – as part of the annual Grammy Charities Auction – you have the chance to bid on an acoustic guitar, DVD and CD signed by “New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.”

The auction is raising money for MusiCares – which works to help those in need in the music industry – and the Grammy Foundation, which works with industries, cultural communities and the public to raise awareness of music and arts education.

Also up for auction are guitars signed by the Jonas Brothers, Slash, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mayer. But if you don’t know one end of a guitar from another, don’t worry – there are plenty of other great items, such as signed posters from the Dixie Chicks and Robert Plant, clothes from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood, and the chance to have lunch with John Stamos or meet Donny and Marie Osmond.

But wait – there’s more!

Maybe you would be interested in handwritten lyrics from Annie Lennox, a sketch by Anthony Kiedis and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or a photo signed by Good Charlotte. There are also a stack of CDs and other items signed by Steven Tyler, Rascal Flatts, Richie Sambora, Avril Lavigne, and many others.

The auction is live right now on eBay and ends on December 11.

U2 Believe In Father Christmas For Africa

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

December 1st was World AIDS Day, and it also marked the launch of (RED)WIRE, an innovative new music service from (RED) that’s been set up to raise funds for HIV/AIDS charities in Africa.

Many artists have already lined up to premiere exclusive songs to help mark the event. Of course, Bono and his boys in U2 were one of the first to record an exclusive track for the new digital music magazine. Their cover of Greg Lake’s ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ is only available on (RED)WIRE.

Those who purchase (RED)WIRE memberships- which are only $5 a month- will receive a weekly digital music offering including an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an up-and-coming artist, and bonus content such as a digital short film or a reading from an artist or actor, as well information about the impact (RED) dollars have in Africa. Half of the $5 monthly fee goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Members who join before Wednesday, December 10, will become “Founding Members” of (RED)WIRE and receive the premier issue on December 10 as well as a special bonus song from Jay-Z.

Also, throughout the week, visit red.msn.com to see performances from U2, Jay-Z, Coldplay, John Legend, Dixie Chicks, The Killers & Elton John, The Police & Elvis Costello, Death Cab for Cutie and Sheryl Crow.

Bono's RED(Wire) To Launch Next Week

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A new digital music service offered by Bono’s (RED) campaign is set to launch on Monday, December 1 – the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

The singer announced the new system in July, saying: “We are working on [a way that] will help change the way music is received, as well as change the lives of Africans who will die without the AIDS drug that (RED) can provide.”

RED (Wire) will be a subscription-based service that will deliver weekly magazine style installments. For $5/month, subscribers will receive an exclusive song from one of the world’s top artists, a song by an emerging artist, a piece of non-music content called a “Crackerjack surprise,” and stories of how (RED) funds are being used to combat the deadly disease.

MSN will host Monday’s launch, with new songs and videos from U2, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jay-Z, John Legend and Sheryl Crow to be available at red.msn.com. Bob Dylan, REM, and The Police will also have videos available exclusively on RED (Wire), and there will also be a special Christmas duet between The Killers and Elton John.

“I like that it stands alone as a creative and fun thing to both receive and participate in,” said Michael Stipe. “And it would be that with or without the charity aspect.”

Look To The Stars News: Dixie Chicks

Tim McGraw And Faith Hill To Perform For Country United

Related past articles

It's Business Time For The Flight Of The Conchords

Related past articles

U2 Believe In Father Christmas For Africa

Related past articles

Bono's RED(Wire) To Launch Next Week

Related past articles